Quick opening foldable containers



July 16, 1968 w. R. CALDWELL 3,392,905

QUICK OPENING FOLDABLE CONTAINERS Filed March 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l mvsu'roa WILBER R. CALDWELL BY %wa %z ATTORNEYS,

July 16, 1968 w, CALDWELL 3,392,905

QUICK OPENING FOLDABLE CONTAINERS Filed March 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K I L) 200 E WILBER R. CALDWELL A'rroamzYs.

United States Patent 3,392,905 QUlCK OPENING FOLDABLE CONTAINERS Wilber R. Caldwell, 2210 De Fool's Hills Road NW., Atlanta, Ga. 30318 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 580,494,

Sept. 19, 1966. This application Mar. 22, 1967, Ser.

10 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Foldable containers for packaging having foldable panels adapted to be adhesively secured together and including tear portions suitably scored to sever one of said panels to enable quick opening of a sealed package.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 580,494, filed Sept. 19, 1966, now abandoned.

Background of the invention Foldable containers for use in merchandising and vending articles, such as lingerie, hoisery, and the like, are well known but these containers are either permanently sealed adhesively or are latched in closed position by interlocking tabs and slots or the like. The permanently sealed containers are difficult to open by hand and if implements such as a knife or scissors are used there is danger of damage to the contents. The containers which are latched in closed position are not adaptable for machine filling and closing, or for use in Vending machines, and on the open counter are subject to Opening by shoppers with the consequent liability of damage to the contents.

Summary of the invention The present invention is concerned with a container of the permanently sealed type for safe and protective enclosure of the contents, and which is provided with means enabling ready opening of the container without the use of implements, and is not resealable after operation of the opening means so that the casual shopper is deterred from opening the package merely to satisfy a whim. Specifically, the container comprises a body of sheet material, such as cardboard, defining a rectangular front panel and foldable flaps on all four sides thereof. The outer flap is provided with adhesive for permanently securing it over the other three flaps, and one of the flaps is provided with opening means including a pull tab and connecting tear portion completely spanning the flap beyond the adhesively secured area thereof. Thus, by pulling the tab and ripping out the tear portion the flap is completely severed and the container is opened for access to its interior.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the interior of a blank for the formation of a first form of container constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the container partially folded for assembly;

FIGURE 3 is another perspective view showing the container fully closed, and disclosing the preferred manner of opening the same in phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a second form of the invention;

FIGURE 5 shows an intermediate assembly step in perspective of said second form; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the second form of the invention in in assembled condition, disclosing the manner of opening in phantom lines,

Patented July 16, 1968 Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the drawings in more detail, and specifically to FIGURES l through 3, a first form of. container 10 is formed from an initially flat blank 12 (FIGURE 1) of heavy paper stock or the like which may be suitably marked for commercial purposes. The container 10 comprises a substantially rectangular main panel 14 which forms the front of the completed container. The panel 14 has opposite end portions 16, 18 terminating in end edges 20, 22, respectively, and side portions 24 and 26 with side edges 28, 30. A window 32 is formed in the panel and which is closed by a protective, transparent cover 34 of synthetic plastic such as cellophane or the like.

Connected to the main panel 14 along fold lines coincident with the end edges 20 and 22 are identical but opposite end panels 38 of substantially triangular form. Each of the end panels has a base portion 40 with a proximal end edge substantially coincident with said end edges 20 and 22, respectively, and substantially parallel side edges 44, 46 linearly aligned with the side edges 28 and 30, respectively, of the main panel 10. The end panels further have inclined side portions 48, 50 and rounded apices 52.

A first, underlying side panel 54 has a base portion 56 joined to the base portion 26 of the main panel .14 along a fold line which coincides substantially with the side edge 30. The side panel is of generally triangular form and has a pair of substantially parallel lateral edges 60 and 62 linearly aligned with the end edges 20, 22, respectively, of the main panel and inclined side portions 64 and 66. The side portion 64 is provided with an indent 68, and parallel score lines '70, 72 extend transversely across the panel from side to side at said indent and define a removable tear strip 74. The strip has a pull tab 76 thereon located within the indent portion, and the outer portion 78 of the panel is truncated at its extremity.

The container 10 further comprises a second, securing panel 80 of triangular form and has a base portion 82 hingedly joined to the base portion 24 of the main panel substantially along fold line 28. Linearly aligned with the end edges 20, 22 of the main panel are sides edges 86, 88, and the panel also has inclined side portions 90, 92 and a truncated outer end portion 94. Obviously, the fold lines 20, 22, 28 and 30 may each comprise spaced double fold lines to provide narrow edge walls around the package.

The panel 80 is provided with adhesive areas, preferably, a tacky mastic of the pressure-sensitive or selfadhering variety. The adhesive is applied at three locations to the inner face of the securing panel, specifically, in a short section 96 adjacent the edge of the end portion 94, and elongated sections 98 on the side portions and 92 adjacent their respective edges. With the adhesive so located, the closure panel 80 will be secured to both end panels 38 by the areas 98, and by the area 96 to the outer portion 78 of the underlying side panel 54.

As indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3, folding procedures (following placement of an article on the panel 14) involve an initial bending of the end panels 38 about the fold lines 20, 22 followed by bending of the first side panel 54. The sides 64, 66 of the latter overlie the adjacent sides 50 of the end panels, and the inward extent of the side panel is such that the end portions 52 of the end panels are also covered thereby. The side panel 80 is then folded over about the fold line 28 and its pressuresensitive adhesive areas 96, 98 are engaged against the outer end portion 78 of the panel 54 and the sides 48 of the end panels. This effectively seals the container in the rectangular form shown in FIGURE 3. The end portion 94 is of a depth dimensioned to terminate within the portion 78 whereby the tear strip 74 and tab 76 are exposed,

3 and the adhesive areas 98 cannot overlap the main body of the side flap 54.

It is to be noted that by virtue of the overlap of the initially straight side edges of each flap or panel, the enclosure of the article is complete, including corner portions thereof. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this packing is also readily adapted to use on many types of folding machines. Opening of the container simply involves grasping of the tab 76 and manipulation thereof to remove the strip 74, thereby freeing the base portion 56 of the side panel 54 for pivoting about its fold line 30, thus providing access to the article within the container.

In FIGURES 4 through 6, inclusive, a second form 100 of container, comprising a blank 12a, Within the scope of this invention is disclosed. Elements of the container 10a corresponding in structure and function to the elements of the container 10 are identified in the drawing by the same characters of reference, a letter a being added for distinction. The main panel 14a is of rectangular form and has end portions 16a, 18a with end edges 20a, 22a, and side portions 24a, 26a terminating in edges 28a and 30a. Again a suitable window 32a with a cover 34a is supplied.

In this modification, the fold panels are substantially rectangular instead of triangular. The end panels 38a are connected to the main panel 14a along fold lines which coincide with the end edges 20a and 22a. Each panel 38a has a base 40a and sides 48a, 50a which may be slightly inclined inwardly; and terminate at a straight outer edge 52a. As shown in FIGURE 5, the end panels 38a are foldable inwardly along the lines 20a and 22a during the assembly procedure in the manner of the panels 38 of the first form of the invention.

Referring further to FIGURE 4, a first underlying side panel 54a has a base portion 56a which is foldable inwardly over the end panels 38a along a fold line coincident with the edge 30a. The panel includes a pair of substantially parallel lateral edges 60a, 62a aligned with the end edges 20a and 22a, and the lateral edges terminate at indented portions 64a and 66a bridged by a straight outer end edge 78a.

In the second form of the invention, the securing panel 80a has its base portion 82a hinged to the main panel along a fold line at the edge 28a. The panel 80a has side edges 86a and 88a and an outer edge 94a. The edge 94a has indented cut-outs 68a On either side of a pull tab 76a and inclined lines of serration 70a, 72a which define a tear portion 74a. In this arrangement, the pull tab 76a is centrally of the outer edge 94a and the tear lines 70a,

72a diverge therefrom to the inner corners at the opposite sides of the panel 80a.

Adhesive areas are applied on the inner face of the panel 80a whereby the panel is affixed to the folded end panels 38a and to the panel 54a. These adhesive areas are located outside the tear lines 7 0a, 72a and tear portion 74a, and preferably are L-shaped with legs 98a extending along the panel side edges 86a, 88a, and legs 96a extending along the end edge 94a. Thus, when the panels are folded to close the package, the adhesive portions 98a will adhere to the end panels 38a and the portions 96a will adhere to the flap portion 78a and overlie the notched portions 64a, 66a.

Folding and opening procedures for the container 10a are substantially like those described above in respect to the first example of the invention. In the case of the con tainers 10a however the tab 76a is grasped and pulled outwardly to effect opening along the lines 70a, 72a and open the tear portion 74a for access to the contents, in the manner indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 6 of the drawing.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that these descriptions and illustrations have been offered only by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container forming blank comprising:

a sheet of foldable material including a substantially rectangular main panel forming a front for the completed container, the main panel having opposite ends and sides with end edges and side edges;

end panels, each having a base portion with proximal end edges, and side portions;

fold means hingedly connecting the end edges of the main panel with the proximal end edges of the end panels;

a first, underlying side panel having a base portion including an inner end edge, side portions, and an outer portion;

fold means hingedly connecting the inner end edge of the side panel to one of the side edges of the main panel;

said end panels being foldable over the main panel about the material to be contained and said first side panel being foldable to a position wherein its side portions overlap the side portions of the end panels;

a second, securing side panel having a base portion including an inner end edge, side portions, and an outer end portion;

fold means hingedly securing the inner end edge of said securing panel to the other side edge of the main panel;

adhesive areas on the inner face of said securing panel at spaced locations and engageable with the end panels and the first side panel for closing said container when said securing panel is folded over said end and side panels,

one of said side panels having an opening flap area free of adhesive securement to any of the other panels and an outlying portion outside said opening flap area adhesively secured to the other side panel, said opening flap area being of trapezoidal shape having its major base extending along the entire length of the inner end edge of said one side panel and its minor base parallel to and substantially at the outer end edge of said one side panel, and

opening means on said one side panel and including a pull tab at one edge of said one side panel and two weakened tear lines defining a tear portion connected with said pull tab and separating said opening flap area from said outlying portion.

2. A container forming blank comprising:

a sheet of foldable material including a substantially rectangular main panel forming a front for the completed container, the main panel having opposite ends and sides with end edges and side edges;

end panels, each having a base portion with proximal end edges, and side portions;

fold means hingedly connecting the end edges of the main panel with the proximal end edges of the end panels;

a first, underlying side panel having a base portion including an inner end edge, side portions, and an outer portion;

fold means hingedly connecting the inner end edge of the side panel to one of the side edges of the main panel;

said end panels being foldable over the main panel about the material to be contained and said first side panel being foldable to a position wherein its side portions overlap the side portions of the end panels;

a second, securing side panel having a base portion including an inner end edge, side portions, and an outer end portion;

fold means hingedly securing the inner end edge of said securing panel to the other side edge of the main panel;

adhesive areas on the inner face of said securing panel at spaced locations and engageable with the end panels and the first side panel for closing said container when said securing panel is folded over said end and side panels, and

opening means on one of said side panels and including a pull tab at one edge of said one panel and two weakened tear lines defining a tear portion connected with said pull tab and completely spanning said panel from side to side beyond said adhesively secured areas;

said tear lines comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel score lines in said first side panel substantially parallel With the inner edge of said first side panel and defining a removable strip separatin its base portion from the remainder thereof which is adapted to be adhesively secured to said second side panel; and

said pull tab being at a side edge of said first side panel.

3. A container blank according to claim 2, wherein:

said first side panel is triangular and has inclined side portions one of said inclined side portions has an indented portion therein and defining said pull tab, and

said score lines are aligned with said indented portion and being spaced from the outer portion and clear of the securing panel when the latter is folded over the first side panel.

4. A container blank according to claim 1, wherein:

said one side panel is said securing panel, said adhesive areas being in said outlying region,

said pull tab is at the outer edge of said securing panel and said weakened tear lines comprise oppositely inclined score lines in said securing panel from said tab to the side edges of said securing panel. 5. A container blank according to claim 4, wherein: said end and side panels are substantially rectangular in configuration, the adhesive areas being at the corner portions of said securing panel, said securing panel having an indent centrally of its outer edge between said adhesive areas and defining sa-id tab, and said score lines extending from said tab to the inner base corners of said securing panel. 6. A container folded from the blank defined claim 1.

7. A container claim 2.

8. A container folded from the blank defined claim 3.

9. A container folded from the blank defined claim 4.

10. A container folded from the blank defined claim 5.

folded from the blank defined in References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

